Illinois Establishes Agricultural Carbon Credit Program

To promote environmental protection and economic opportunities for farmers, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency instituted the Illinois Conservation and Climate Initiative (ICCI) on January 26, 2006. ICCI is a voluntary program awarding farmers carbon offset credits for greenhouse gas (GHG) sequestration practices such as conservation tillage, planting grasses and trees and capturing methane from animal operations. After third-party verification of the offsets, credits will be sold to the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) through the nonprofit Delta Institute. The Chicago Climate Exchange is a market for trading greenhouse gas emission credits between members who have voluntarily adopted GHG emission reduction commitments. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Natural Resources will manage outreach and education programs to inform Illinois farmers about this opportunity to create value through agricultural carbon management.